Photos of plants and flowers, landscapes and people, and comments on experiences while traveling inside and outside of Brasil (Brazil)

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Friday, December 20, 2013

Houston Parks continued, Cullinan Park in Sugarland

Over the past few years I have posted about several Houston parks that I walked while visiting Houston. Houston has beautiful natural space and I love walking around them, meandering, taking photos. Now, as a permanent resident, I have joined a couple walking / hiking groups locally, and after many delays, I’ve finally been able to join a couple of the long walks through our local parks. I look forward to doing more of this walking – social – exercise and sharing them with you as the seasons in Houston change.

The Houston metropolitan area is laced with waterways. We are a drainage basin for two major rivers, Brazos River to the west of Houston (i.e. Brazos Bend State Park) and to the east the Trinity makes its ways down from the Texas / Oklahoma border. These rivers are joined by many creeks, bayous, and smaller rivers as they make their way through the Houston area. Because of them we have many State and Federal Parks, and nature / bird reserves and estuaries. All of this lends itself well to nature trails and other hiking, biking, horseback riding, and fishing activities. My activity of choice is hiking. Hiking with the camera, of course.

This time of year and on this particular day, it is rainy, brown and gray, and the sky washes out to a bright white. I am sure there is a way to edit these white skies or filter them when taking the photo, but I don’t know how so you see what I saw on this day in mid December, close to the first day of winter. The colors of a pre-winter day; all fading out as winter gets here in earnest. In an attempt to get the colors in the photos to be close to the colors I saw, I used an edit special effect of applying ‘oil painting’. I was please with the results.

Peggy, the actual photo was all greys and browns, but the actual scenery was closer to the EDITED photo - I applied oil paint special effects and liked the results. No all of them, but most of the landscapes.

I have never lived in the south and it seems very foreign to me to be without snow and cold in December. I love the image of the fallen leaves on the grass with the structure in the background. Very nice. I hope you enjoy your time in Houston.

yes, we have had an unusually cold fall. several freezes. the tall grass along the edge of the water (actually growing in the water but I don't think they are considered reeds) is very green in the summer with a tall white, feathery like flower on top and in the water the lily pad dry to a cone shape above the water level. was beautiful in natures way.

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Welcome to Flowers and More

2013 - I am now back in the USA and living in Houston, Texas. You can't read the early post without realizing that I was in Brasil for Camillo. I will miss Camillo as my friend, travel companion and guide. As I change 'Flowers' will also be evolving, adapting to my new old life. I will try to guide its changes but it will be an adventure for both you and me as what all this change will means.

History:

2007-2012, Although I live in Brasil, Camillo and I have traveled in North America, South America and Europe extensively. I always take copious photos. I love flowers and gardens, and beautiful spaces. I want to share with you life in Brasil and share my photos. I hope you enjoy them and send me comments about your experiences.

About Me

"Tiny Steps" is my second blog. Its purpose is not yet clear, but lurking in the back of my mind is the possibility that it will give voice to the many changes in me personally and to my life as I adjust from life as an expat in Brasil to a widow, a late in life single. Also lurking is the thought that this blog will help bring back my love of photography, of writing just for the joy of seeing the words laid out and to the sharing of both to my friends from "Flowers and More"